UR Rao in US 'Hall of Fame'

Bangalore (IANS): Top Indian space scientist U R Rao has been inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame in Washington DC by the Society of Satellite Professionals International, in the US. "Rao is the first Indian space scientist to be inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame and joins the select group of about 50 members, including Arthur C. Clarke, Van Allen, Harold Rosen, Peter Jackson and Robert Berry, among others," the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here on Thursday. Rao, who is chairman of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, has contributed to the development of Indian space technology and its application to communications and remote sensing of natural resources since the 1960s. "Rao was responsible for the creation of India's space and satellite capabilities and their application to the nation's development. As ISRO chairman (1984-1994), he established satellite technology in India," the citation said at a function held March 19. Rao also accelerated the development of Indian rocket technology, resulting in the launch of ASLV rocket in 1992 and the operational PSLV launch vehicle. Rao promoted the use of space technology for broadcasting, education, meteorology, remote sensing and disaster warning.